Election 2007: Q&A with Kalamazoo City Commission candidates

In Kalamazoo, 13 candidates are running for seven two-year seats on the City Commission in the Nov. 6 election. That field includes Angie Suarez and Jonathan Braun, who have filed paperwork to compete as write-in candidates, but whose names will not appear on the ballot. The seven candidates who receive the most votes will win commission seats, with the top two vote-getters becoming mayor and vice mayor.

A. My top three priorities are: 1. Providing basic city services with responsible fiscal management to ensure well-maintained streets and parks, a balanced budget and respectful professionalism in Public Safety. 2. Increasing regional cooperation, such as the city-Western Michigan University joint-purchasing agreement, city-county collaboration around affordable housing, and regional life-cycle costing to conserve public resources and solidify intergovernmental connections. 3. Articulating a vision that positions Kalamazoo as a community of choice to support regional economic development.

Q. In the near future, the city will be filling three top administrative positions: city attorney, director of human resources and Public Safety chief. What search process should be used, and what are the primary characteristics you want in the people who are hired?

A. Since only the city attorney reports directly to the City Commission, we have contracted for that search with the Michigan Municipal League, and to create related candidate and community profiles. For all three positions, experience, top-notch skills, capacity for leadership and demonstrated history of community engagement are critical. For these high-profile city employees, Kalamazoo also needs a commitment to the city vision of trust, transparency and professionalism in every encounter with people in our community.

Q. Are there services the city should be providing that it currently does not? If yes, specifically how would you pay for adding them?

A. Right now the city is underfunding critical infrastructure services related to streets, parks and neighborhoods. Yet the only way for Kalamazoo to increase revenue is for families and businesses to feel comfortable making investments in the city. Regional cooperation could allow us to operate some services with greater efficiency and free up dollars to invest in infrastructure. Other efficiencies may lie in consolidation of billing and collection functions that occur in many city offices.

Q. Does the city now provide any services that you favor eliminating? If yes, identify them.

A. All Michigan cities are being pressed to deliver public services at lower cost. While city government has a responsibility to carefully monitor and seek to moderate resident taxes, currently almost every Kalamazoo administrative department is operating with less-than-optimal staffing; parks and recreation have been steadily cut; sidewalk and street maintenance are chronically underfunded. Safe neighborhoods and well-maintained streets and parks are essential to attracting people to Kalamazoo and must become a larger priority.

Q. Several recent Public Safety cases have focused debate on finding the appropriate balance between aggressive law enforcement -- designed to get guns and drugs off the streets -- and preserving individual rights. What is that balance?

A. Public Safety enforcement must be fair, even-handed, trustworthy and transparent. People deserve to feel safe in their homes, on the street, and in Kalamazoo conducting business. But public trust is essential to maintaining public safety. To build trust, we need city protocols that place respect and professionalism at the heart of every citizen encounter with Public Safety. And we need relationship-building practices that connect Public Safety with churches, schools and neighborhoods to build trust.

A. It is crucial to the health of our city that we improve the quality of our neighborhoods both for the sake of the city residents and for commerce. Revitalizing our neighborhoods will attract new business and encourage current business to stay and grow. I will do this by promoting: 1. Housing issues. 2. Increase our youth opportunities. 3. Create an overall community where crime is the exception.

Q. In the near future, the city will be filling three top administrative positions: city attorney, director of human resources and Public Safety chief. What search process should be used, and what are the primary characteristics you want in the people who are hired?

A. I would advertise the jobs in the local media and interview the top 10 applicants. All applicants being equally qualified, I would support hiring from within city staff first. Assuming that the basic job qualifications are met, knowledge of the city and our diverse population, leadership, problem-solving, diversity training and communications skills, all with proven results, should be required in all three positions hired.

Q. Are there services the city should be providing that it currently does not? If yes, specifically how would you pay for adding them?

A. I believe we need to bring back our Neighborhood Liaison Officer Program. It was a crucial component in a positive connection between the community and the Department of Public Safety. Grant funds could be secured from the Department of Justice or other governmental agencies to support officers who would have designated times at neighborhood associations, and attend monthly neighborhood watch meetings to listen, respond and educate residents about crime issues and questions.

Q. Does the city now provide any services that you favor eliminating? If yes, identify them.

A. It is the job of the City Commission to present a balanced budget to the public by examining expenses versus revenues. At times, this is the toughest part of the commission's job, and as a commissioner I will work towards those tough decisions as appropriate. Currently, I believe the commission has made the correct amount of cuts and there are no services that need to be eliminated.

Q. Several recent Public Safety cases have focused debate on finding the appropriate balance between aggressive law enforcement -- designed to get guns and drugs off the streets -- and preserving individual rights. What is that balance?

A. I support aggressively getting guns and drugs off of the streets if the alternative is our children getting killed. The balance is in coupling law enforcement with community policing and promoting and supporting service programs aimed at understanding for our adults, and education and engagement for our youth in appropriate activities.

Don Cooney

Age: 70.Address: 1221 Vassar Dr.Occupation: Associate professor, School of Social Work, Western Michigan University.Incumbent: Yes.Years of city residency: 30.Personal: Married, a stepson.

Q. If elected, what will be your top three priorities and why?

A. Three top priorities: Poverty reduction, youth, economic development for all. The three are closely related. Our child poverty rate is an astounding 38 per cent. Too many of our young people end up in violence or the criminal justice system. Too many working people face serious economic challenges. We need to provide supports to children and families so that young people can realize The Promise. We need thriving businesses that afford living-wage jobs.

Q. In the near future, the city will be filling three top administrative positions: city attorney, director of human resources and Public Safety chief. What search process should be used, and what are the primary characteristics you want in the people who are hired?

A. The search for city attorney has begun. We have hired a consultant group to help. For the open positions we should: draw up a profile of what characteristics the person should have; consult the community on that profile; hire a consultant to do a search; bring three top candidates to the community for public input; make a final choice.

Q. Are there services the city should be providing that it currently does not? If yes, specifically how would you pay for adding them?

A. We should research best practices for programs dealing with poverty, housing, violence prevention, supporting families and youth to help them realize The Promise, economic development for all people, better environmental practices. These are critical issues our community faces. Clearly, the city can't provide all the needed services, nor should it. We can contribute, put proposals on the table, be the catalyst to mobilize the rich community resources to impact these problems.

Q. Does the city now provide any services that you favor eliminating? If yes, identify them.

A. I know of no services the city is providing that it shouldn't.

Q. Several recent Public Safety cases have focused debate on finding the appropriate balance between aggressive law enforcement -- designed to get guns and drugs off the streets -- and preserving individual rights. What is that balance?

A. Everyone deserves to be safe. Everyone deserves to be treated with respect and their dignity recognized. Public Safety officers and (the) community must not be pitted against each other. Safety is the responsibility of the whole community and not just Public Safety officers. We need to: 1. Restore community policing, which emphasizes relationship-building and prevention. 2. Hire from the community. 3. Ensure accountability. 4. Continually improve cultural competence (providing services that are appropriate and effective).

Q. In the near future, the city will be filling three top administrative positions: city attorney, director of human resources and Public Safety chief. What search process should be used, and what are the primary characteristics you want in the people who are hired?

A. Talent-plus.

Q. Are there services the city should be providing that it currently does not? If yes, specifically how would you pay for adding them?

A. Properly manage them; more public safety.

Q. Does the city now provide any services that you favor eliminating? If yes, identify them.

A. Seasonal service workers.

Q. Several recent Public Safety cases have focused debate on finding the appropriate balance between aggressive law enforcement -- designed to get guns and drugs off the streets -- and preserving individual rights. What is that balance?

A. Diversity training and citizen involvement.

Bobby Hopewell

(John A. Lacko / Special to the Gazette)Vice Mayor Bobby Hopewell, right, talks with the new Kalamazoo Public Schools Superintendent Michael Rice at a welcoming reception for Rice in August.

A. First, we must continue to build strong, secure and vibrant neighborhoods through a return to community policing and more coordinated neighborhood improvement efforts. Second, we must pursue economic vitality and growth by emphasizing retention of existing businesses while growing and attracting other businesses. Third, we must constantly seek to have a responsible and responsive city government. My detailed Plan for Action for the next two years is available here.

Q. In the near future, the city will be filling three top administrative positions: city attorney, director of human resources and Public Safety chief. What search process should be used, and what are the primary characteristics you want in the people who are hired?

A. I support an open, national search process utilizing a national recruitment firm and public input concerning the ideal profile for each position. The public input process is critical to filling the city attorney and police chief positions, as these staff members have a great deal of contact with the public. Based on my discussions with citizens, we should look for candidates who have a track record of engaging the public, effectively communicating ideas and leadership.

Q. Are there services the city should be providing that it currently does not? If yes, specifically how would you pay for adding them?

A. I believe that the city of Kalamazoo provides all of the core services it should provide, i.e. police, fire, water, parks, zoning, economic development, etc. Yet there are more needs in our community than funds to address them. These needs include more youth services, the creation of more employment opportunities for our youth, and affordable housing. Because of budget constraints, nonprofits and other private parties must be engaged to help support these services.

Q. Does the city now provide any services that you favor eliminating? If yes, identify them.

A. There are no current services that are offered by the city that I favor eliminating at this time. However, because of the economic condition of our state, no part of city government is immune from the possibility of additional budget reductions. If such budget cuts are required, we need to be mindful to make sure that such cuts do not harm the delivery of core city services, such as public safety, roads, etc.

Q. Several recent Public Safety cases have focused debate on finding the appropriate balance between aggressive law enforcement -- designed to get guns and drugs off the streets -- and preserving individual rights. What is that balance?

A. Individual rights guaranteed by the Michigan and United States constitutions must never be sacrificed in the name of aggressive law enforcement. This causes citizens to distrust the legal system and corrupts the very system law-enforcement officials seek to support. Our constitutional framework provides law-enforcement officials ample room in which to protect the rights of all citizens. That is why I support the adoption by the city of the new Non-Biased Policing Policy.

A. Maintaining /improving our neighborhoods, creating/retaining good jobs and supporting our youth so they can benefit from The Promise. Quality neighborhoods protect property values and say to employers: Your workers will want to move here so you should do business here. We can invest in our youth by providing jobs, activities, safe parks, recreational facilities and mentoring programs. Our promise to our city's children must be: You will be safe in your community.

Q. In the near future, the city will be filling three top administrative positions: city attorney, director of human resources and Public Safety chief. What search process should be used, and what are the primary characteristics you want in the people who are hired?

A. The City Commission will hire the city attorney. The Michigan Municipal League is conducting the search process and currently developing a comprehensive position profile. This person must demonstrate experience in municipal law, exemplary communication skills and many other attributes. The city manager hires the directors of human resources and Public Safety. These positions have extensive predetermined position requirements. Their abilities must include excellent supervisory abilities and demonstrate a willingness to work in a transparent setting.

Q. Are there services the city should be providing that it currently does not? If yes, specifically how would you pay for adding them?

A. Many existing city services (and internal operations) have been diminished and depleted by years of budget-cutting. Developing new programs is not a luxury that I see we have, and I would choose to restore resources to current effective programs and services before creating new ones. However, if there is a better, more efficient way to deliver a service -- either through intergovernmental cooperation or by adopting a new model -- I would support implementing it.

Q. Does the city now provide any services that you favor eliminating? If yes, identify them.

A. Most city services have been cut over the eight years I've served on the commission due to severe budget challenges -- some dangerously deep. The city is fortunate that it does not currently have to make payments to cover city retirees' pension costs. I am hard-pressed to think of a service area that does not need additional resources to better serve our citizens. City workers deserve praise for the level of service delivered under the circumstances.

Q. Several recent Public Safety cases have focused debate on finding the appropriate balance between aggressive law enforcement -- designed to get guns and drugs off the streets -- and preserving individual rights. What is that balance?

A. Individual rights are non-negotiable and must always be preserved. Our officers must conduct themselves in an exemplary fashion when dealing with the public -- even when it is difficult -- and enforce the law in an even-handed manner without the appearance of bias. Aggressive law enforcement and preservation of individual rights are not incompatible in order to get guns and illegal drugs off the streets. Neighborhood involvement and trust is the key to a safer community.

Hannah J. McKinney

Mark Bugnaski/GazetteKalamazoo City Mayor Hannah McKinney, right , answers a question during an Editorial Board meeting for City Commission candidates at the Kalamazoo Gazette.

Q. In the near future, the city will be filling three top administrative positions: city attorney, director of human resources and Public Safety chief. What search process should be used, and what are the primary characteristics you want in the people who are hired?

A. Open search processes for all. Attorney search is under way; will have opportunities for public discussion and input in interview process. Hiring of human resources director and chief is city manager's job. Again, open search process with many opportunities for public input. Characteristics for all hires: experienced in urban core city public administration; knowledgeable about working in diverse community; full appreciation of role of community policing in urban public safety; passion for public service.

Q. Are there services the city should be providing that it currently does not? If yes, specifically how would you pay for adding them?

A. The city should continue to provide core services and not take on any new services without additional revenue streams. However, we can and do use city resources to leverage work of community partners. Having the city involved can enhance the work of other groups. Commissioners and city staff can play an important role in lifting up the work of other service providers and in making the work of partners known to the wider community.

Q. Does the city now provide any services that you favor eliminating? If yes, identify them.

A. Streamline tax collection and tax reversion by having county treasurer do it. There are significant advantages in returning foreclosed property to productive use. Drug enforcement should move to county or mixed county/state governance structure for better oversight of activities. Metro Transit needs to continue merger with county transit authority.

Q. Several recent Public Safety cases have focused debate on finding the appropriate balance between aggressive law enforcement -- designed to get guns and drugs off the streets -- and preserving individual rights. What is that balance?

A. Fighting crime is important, but so is preventing crime. Community policing is preventative. Citizens need to be kept safe but processes must be just. Enhancements to the Public Safety Citizen's Review Board, changes in internal investigations procedures and in Freedom of Information Act policies and procedures all begin to create a healthy balance and emphasize justice and equality. Changing recruiting strategies and promotion policies are also part of the mix.

Barbara Miller

Age: 54.Address: 2523 Winchell Ave.Occupation: Community volunteer.Incumbent: Yes. Years of city residency: 27.Personal: Married, three children.

Q. If elected, what will be your top three priorities and why?

A. The increasing cost of health-care needs to be addressed. Wellness programs can address some of those issues. A solid infrastructure plan, tax incentives and ease of paperwork will attract new businesses. Getting and keeping businesses in Kalamazoo will in turn provide much needed jobs. The Kalamazoo Promise can go a long way in providing incentives for businesses to come to Kalamazoo, too. We need to play that up.

Q. In the near future, the city will be filling three top administrative positions: city attorney, director of human resources and Public Safety chief. What search process should be used, and what are the primary characteristics you want in the people who are hired?

A. A search firm was hired for the attorney position. The commission will be directly involved in interviewing and hiring this attorney because this attorney will answer to the commission. The city manager is in charge of the other two positions. In all three positions, the person hired needs to have high integrity, a broad knowledge of Michigan law as related to their field, be able to multitask, delegate, communicate effectively and be a team player.

Q. Are there services the city should be providing that it currently does not? If yes, specifically how would you pay for adding them?

A. No. We need to stay focused on keeping a strong core, concentrating on issues that we can control. A balanced budget, solid infrastructure, attracting and keeping businesses are all areas that the city is good at and should continue to concentrate on. Community foundations have stepped up time and time again in terms of giving grant money to organizations. Those organizations do good work and fill in many holes where city resources are lacking.

Q. Does the city now provide any services that you favor eliminating? If yes, identify them.

A. Yes. We need to turn over our delinquent tax accounts to the county. By doing so, we get the money from the county and the county is then charged with the responsibility of collecting the delinquent taxes.

Q. Several recent Public Safety cases have focused debate on finding the appropriate balance between aggressive law enforcement -- designed to get guns and drugs off the streets -- and preserving individual rights. What is that balance?

A. The balance is that, with rights also come responsibilities. Citizens need to be responsible in terms of obeying the law and being respectful of others around them. Churches have had sessions where citizens were given helpful suggestions as to how to react when someone is pulled over. The police department, schools and local organizations could do this work also. Officer training needs to be ongoing.

Stephanie L. Moore

Age: 35.Address: 414 W. Paterson St.Occupation: National recruiter and trainer for ACORN Political Operations.Incumbent: No.Years of city residency: 35.Personal: Married, four children.

Q. If elected, what will be your top three priorities and why?

A. Jobs: Create opportunity for employment and encourage entrepreneurial opportunities to stimulate growth and the local economy. Attract more business and industry to the community that is consistent with the environment to create more jobs in a healthy environment. Beautiful and safer neighborhoods: A strong community relationship among all neighborhoods improves the health, safety and the quality of life. Community involvement: Working together to include residents in the planning process to identify causes of poverty, underachievement in education and perceptions of inequity.

Q. In the near future, the city will be filling three top administrative positions: city attorney, director of human resources and Public Safety chief. What search process should be used, and what are the primary characteristics you want in the people who are hired?

A. It has to be a national search. People whose values and point of view represent inclusion; willingness to work with people in the community; openness to diversity and the willingness to build a diverse team of people whom they work with in their department. The process should include citizens interviewing finalists. Candidate's plans should address challenges the city is facing and what their knowledge of implementing a strategy consistent with best practices to eliminating these challenges.

Q. Are there services the city should be providing that it currently does not? If yes, specifically how would you pay for adding them?

A. Educational workshops on what to do when faced with foreclosure through partnership with agencies and the county on a moratorium on foreclosure, especially for people with sub-prime loans. In most cases, adequate services are being provided. There may be a question of equity, efficiency and quality of services that may require tweaking. This issue can be addressed by reallocation of resources, without having to increase cost-shifting resources, to areas and communities where there is the greatest need.

Q. Does the city now provide any services that you favor eliminating? If yes, identify them.

A. The consent to govern is derived from the people. The city manager is responsible for the budget and advising the commission on such a question. I would seek to have the city manager identify areas where we might be able to eliminate or reduce services. I would seek to get input from the public through public hearing before such a decision is made to eliminate services that might affect the quality of life and safety of citizens.

Q. Several recent Public Safety cases have focused debate on finding the appropriate balance between aggressive law enforcement -- designed to get guns and drugs off the streets -- and preserving individual rights. What is that balance?

A. Community policing creates dialogue between the community and law enforcement, which has to take place in an attempt to build bridges and increase trust. Everyone must be committed to getting guns and drugs off the streets and reducing crime without violating citizen's rights. The balance is being consistent and fair regardless of race, age or economic status. Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety must hire and promote from within the Kalamazoo community. Continue the Leadership Academy so that it's ongoing and expand it to adults.

A. My first priority will be investing in the lives of people through community involvement. We need to start intervening now if we ever hope to reduce the crime rate. Second, as a city, we need to aggressively pursue new jobs and business for Kalamazoo. Third, set up a program with our city landlords to make rental housing more affordable.

Q. In the near future, the city will be filling three top administrative positions: city attorney, director of human resources and Public Safety chief. What search process should be used, and what are the primary characteristics you want in the people who are hired?

A. I'm in favor of promoting from within for the attorney and human resources positions, which brings experience and knowledge of Kalamazoo's practices. The Public Safety chief search, however, should be done nationally. There have been some tough issues that Public Safety has dealt with in the last few years, and I believe the citizens will demand that we search for only the very best in the nation with a strong background to take over.

Q. Are there services the city should be providing that it currently does not? If yes, specifically how would you pay for adding them?

A. In order to start mentoring our at-risk community, the city will need to partner with groups that are willing to get involved. We could donate space, tables and chairs, help fund, even bring in nationally known speakers. Whatever it takes to get this vision moving, talking about it won't save lives.

Q. Does the city now provide any services that you favor eliminating? If yes, identify them.

A. I'd like to see the city do more budget trimming without eliminating jobs. As health-care and energy costs continue to rise, we can do our part by downsizing the city-owned fleet of vehicles and conserving energy in our buildings.

Q. Several recent Public Safety cases have focused debate on finding the appropriate balance between aggressive law enforcement -- designed to get guns and drugs off the streets -- and preserving individual rights. What is that balance?

A: Public Safety officers are held to high standards by the citizens of Kalamazoo. They (Public Safety) are going to have the voice recorders as well as in-car video on at all times for accountability. Walking, not just driving, through the neighborhoods and building trust and relationships is needed as well. The citizens can help by reporting crimes through Silent Observer more often.